KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Technology and citizen support are key to the effectiveness of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), which was launched almost two months ago.

Speaking in a JIS Studio 58A interview recently, Commanding Officer of PSTEB, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Calvin Allen, said the use of technology, through a command centre, and the PSTEB line, have been critical to the positive impact the Branch has had since its launch.

“We are able to view the traffic flow from their (National Works Agency) cameras in their Command Centre to feed the information to our officers on the road to see any situation that is occurring. Technology is the way to go… . An officer can’t be everywhere, so these technologies will be used to capture, retrieve and take action,” SSP Allen explained.

The PSTEB officers are critical to facilitating traffic management in areas where major road rehabilitation works are being undertaken, including Constant Spring Road, Mandela Highway, Portia Simpson Miller Square and Hagley Park Road.

According to Allen, through their access to the footage, they are able to study the behavioural patterns of motorists and develop a response to issues in the Corporate Area and Montego Bay, where PSTEB officers are currently stationed.

He also noted that the PSTEB hotline has been receiving numerous calls and WhatsApp messages, with some tips leading to PSTEB officers intercepting criminal activities, such as robberies.

The hotline number, 876-591-5671, allows individuals to share information with the security forces to assist traffic enforcement and public safety.

“The PSTEB tip line is being utilised in terms of providing real-time information based on whatever situation they (the public) are encountering, and we use that information to redeploy officers to where the challenge is,” Allen noted.